There are people who like to talk about how hard it is to get a book deal with a traditional publisher in the current economy. From the perspective of Kirkus’ editors, however, there’s a bounty of talented new writers in fiction and nonfiction who deserve a wider readership. Here’s our selection of this fall’s up-and-coming writers, fiction listed first, followed by nonfiction. Not all of these books are available for purchase yet, but all will be published this fall.

"Boasting a fearlessly self-possessed child narrator, this is one of those books you stop what you're doing to finish, take a breath to ponder its profundities, and start again."

In this astonishing first novel, 7-year-old, physically disabled Jess reviews her brief, tumultuous life from heaven via films provided by The Assembler, a supreme being who, for mysterious reasons, declined to give her thumbs, several bones, a whole heart and the gift of hearing. Read full book review >

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